(Note: All statistics do not include play-offs round)
The 2023–24 Egyptian Second Division A season was the inaugural edition of the Egyptian Second Division A, the new second-highest level in the Egyptian football league system. It succeeded the old Egyptian Second Division, which was abolished and replaced with the new Second Division A and Second Division B as the new second and third-tier leagues, respectively, with the latter retaining the format used by the abolished league.[1] Fixtures for the 2023–24 season were announced on 22 August 2023.[2]
The season started on 24 September 2023, and concluded on 26 June 2024.
Petrojet were crowned champions of the first edition of the league with three matches to spare, following a 3–0 win over Raya Ghazl Kafr El Dawar on 16 April 2024, and secured promotion back to the Egyptian Premier League after a four-year absence.[3] They were joined by Ghazl El Mahalla (runners-up) and Haras El Hodoud (promotion play-offs winners), who both suffered an immediate return to the league after getting relegated in the previous season.[4][5]
Format
The league consist of 20 teams in one group.[6] The final format was confirmed by Egyptian Football Association board member Ehab El Komy on 8 August 2023, after changes were made to the initial format announced on 19 June 2023.[7]
The season is separated into two phases: In the first phase, teams face each other only once in a single-leg tie, then the league split into two groups. Phase two consist of a promotion group for teams finishing from first to tenth, and a relegation group for teams finishing from 11th to 20th in the first phase.[8] The top two teams in the promotion group earn promotion to the Egyptian Premier League, while the third-placed team play against the three play-off winners from the 2023–24 Egyptian Second Division B in a four-team play-off round, to decide the third promoted team to the Premier League. This means that there's a chance for Second Division B sides to skip a level and earn promotion directly to the Premier League without playing in the Second Division A. Teams finishing in the bottom six in the relegation group face relegation to the Second Division B.[9] Later, it was announced that this season's format is exceptional, and will change in the next season.[10]
Three teams were relegated from the Premier League, three teams were promoted from the third division through promotion play-offs, while the remaining 14 teams secured their spot through the second division.
Source: Soccerway Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Positions by round
The following tables list the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological involvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 11, but then postponed and played between matchdays 14 and 15, it will be added to the standings for day 14.
The draw for the play-off round was held on 15 May 2024, 13:00 local time (UTC+3), at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters, to decide the order of the fixtures.[12] The play-offs consist of the third-placed team in the league, alongside the three winners of the Second Division B promotion play-offs.
^Main stadiums for the 2023–24 season are listed only. Clubs are allowed to play selected matches at alternative venues; whether due to unavailability, security concerns, or other reasons. For example, Asyut Petroleum, a team from Asyut, may play some home games at Asyut University Stadium, instead of their regular home stadium, Asyut Petroleum Stadium.
^Makadi finished 1st in Group B in Third Division regular season.
^Nogoom finished 1st in Group E in Third Division regular season.
^Proxy finished 6th in Group C in Second Division regular season.
^Raya Ghazl Kafr El Dawar finished 1st in Group J in Third Division regular season.
^Telecom Egypt finished 6th in Group B in Second Division regular season.